Eighty-One Year Old Homeless Woman Seeks Shelter For Herself And Dogs

TWIN FALLS, IDAHO — This is the story of one woman down on her luck, and another who doesn’t have much, but she’s willing to give it all.

Marie Pederson was living in her truck in front of Wal-Mart for three weeks, just trying to take care of herself and her seven dogs. Cathy Adams works with meals on wheels and started bringing Marie food, right to the parking lot.

“I couldn’t leave her in those conditions. So, I went back later and offered her the use of my motor home. She’s been living in it since Friday,” Cathy Adams says.

The problem…she sold the motor home last week. So, come Friday, Pederson could be right back where she started.

“I don’t see how anybody couldn’t get involved, walk up to her pickup in the Wal-Mart parking lot and not get involved…it was very sad,” Adams says.

The women have tried many resources, but the biggest hang up has been finding somewhere that will take Marie and her dogs.

“I’d never give my dogs up. I’d rather be dead. It probably would kill me if someone tried to take my dogs,” Marie Pederson says.

“I feel a lot that I’ve come up against a brick wall because it seems like I’m the only one who can help. I’ve tried to go through different resources and there’s only so much I can do,” Adams says.

Pederson is 81-years-old and receives supplemental security income, but with no address or bank account – she hasn’t seen that check. The only family she has left is her son who’s incarcerated. But she insists that she’s tough.

“I can endure a lot more than some people because I’ve been through all kinds of tribulations in my life,” Pederson says.

“Hopefully there’s someone else out there that can help also. If not a permanent home, a temporary home that’s actually a home and not a motor home,” Adams says.

We asked Pederson what she will do if she doesn’t come up with a place to stay by Friday, April 29, and she said go back to Wal-Mart. But Adams says that’s just not an option. They’re both hoping someone out there reading this has a better answer.